ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
CALGARY – Coming into the game tied for first in the East Division with Montreal, the Argonauts sought to take sole possession after Montreal suffered a week 12 loss at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimos.
Following a disappointing 13-12 loss on Labour Day to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Boatmen offence received a huge infusion with the return of veteran SB Andre Durie, seeing his first game action since week two. The Argos defence also saw some new life as DB Evan McCollough started for the Boatmen for the first time since 2012 after signing over the bye week and started opposite DB Alex Suber who was also acquired over the bye week in a trade with Winnipeg.
It was déjà vu for the Boatmen to start off week 12 as they fumbled the opening kick leading to great field position for Calgary before the game had even begun. The defence held the Stamps in check however and the Stamps settled for a 28-yard Rene Parades field goal and the early 3-0 lead.
Ricky Ray and the Argos responded on their next drive. Ray found FB Alexandre Dupuis deep down field for a big pick up, putting them in Stampeders territory. Durie then reminded Argos fans why he’s been missed on the field as Ray looked to him in the red zone and Durie secured the catch at the goal line and ran is in for the touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
After a quick two-and-out, the Argos offence got rolling again. This time Ray orchestrated a six play, 89-yard drive that was capped off by an 11-yard strike to SB Trent Guy for the major as the Argos lead was pushed to 14-3.
Swayze Waters continued to kick the cover off the ball, blasting the opening kick-off into the endzone. The Stamps took a knee and conceded the single to bring the Argos lead to 15-3.
Driving deep into Argos territory, the Stamps equaled the turnover ratio as LB Shane Horton stripped and recovered the ball from RB Rob Cote giving the Boatmen their first take away of the game. The Argos did not capitalize but went into the second quarter with their 15-3 lead intact.
The Argos got the first turnover of the second quarter as well, as S Jermaine Gabriel picked off Mitchell after he was hit during his release. It was his first INT of the season, the second of his career. A nice moment for a player that played his junior football with the Calgary Colts of the CJFL.
Capitalizing on the turnover, Ray took over on in the red zone and quickly hit WR Spencer Watt who was wide open in the middle of the endzone for the 22-3 lead.
On the next drive, the Argos forced a turnover on downs after the Stampeders botched a 3rd down fake punt, putting the Boatmen in great field position.
Finding his fourth receiver for a touchdown, SB Jason Barnes broke behind coverage and Ray placed an easy catch into his hands for his fourth TD of the half and a 29-3 lead.
Before the half could end, the Stamps were able to close the gap as Mitchell hooked up with Sederrik Cunningham for the touchdown bringing the Argos lead to 29-10.
Picking up in the second half where they left off, the Argos struck first as Ray lead a 6 play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a 36-yard Waters field goal. 32-10 lead for the Boatmen.
Calgary finally broke a big play on their next drive as RB Jon Cornish broke a 79-yard touchdown run followed by a successful two-point conversion as the Stampeders began to steal momentum.
Hufnagel and the Stampeders continued to rally in the third quarter as Brad Sinopoli would bring down a touchdown at 5:02 in the third quarter. The Argos would take over with their lead cut to 32-25 and the offence and defence reeling.
In the fourth quarter the Argos scored first though, extending their lead to eight points with a rouge off the foot of Waters.
However, the Argos could not regain any momentum as the Stampeders continued to roll. Even with Bo-Levi Mitchell on the sideline, QB Drew Tate stepped in and picked up right where they left off.
Tate first found Jabari Arthur for the touchdown to tie the game and followed that up with another impressive drive capped by a Cornish TD reception to take the lead.
With just over a minute left Ray had a chance to drive for the tie and after reaching Calgary territory was hit during a throw and intercepted.
That sealed it as the Stampeders completed the second half comeback pushing the Boatmen to 3-8, still tied with Montreal for tops in the East Division.